Girard Perregaux

crown comfort
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The Girard-Perregaux Laureato, 40 years and still fresh

I have not too long ago showed you here in the forum the first release of the GP Laureato. At that time an original Genta design, competing with the Royal Oaks, Nautilus’es and 222s.

GP.watchprosite.com

Over the years during the 80ties, the Laureato had a few modifications but it’s fair to say I think that none of those were doing any favours to the original design by Genta.

Only at the start of the Macaluso era, a second evolution of the Laureato with an in-house ultra-thin automatic caliber was released in 1995, the Ref 8010, which closely matched the design of the original Laureato but finally fitted a mechanical movement. (I‘m discounting the mid 80ies version with astronomical complication) A chronograph followed soon after, also as the last Olimpico model in the year 1996.

In 2003 then a new, 3^rd era of the Laureato started. The Laureato Evo3 was born. A significant evolution from the previous versions with a bold and powerful design while keeping the key characteristics in place such as the octagonal bezel and the bracelet design.  A strap version was for the first time also available with the Evo3.

In 2005, GP paid tribute to 30 years of Laureato and 35 years of Quartz movements with the special edition release of the Laureato Evo3 Quartz.

The Evo3 had besides the Chronograph a few other versions. The very nice and still on my wish list large date/moonphase (for me with the grey dial please), the perpetual calendar chronograph (the white gold/whie dial looks gorgeous) and a few limited edition pieces like the sapphire bridge tourbillon which we were able to admire recently in the forum.

After many years, I still have a strong love for my Evo3 Chronograph, in the limited Club Italia edition. The strong character of the watch makes it special to wear. I mostly enjoy the tan strap, but also change to rubber in the summer and also have a dark brown croco strap. The only mandatory change I recommend is to remove the original deployment buckle which is very uncomfortable with the not too light and sizeable watch and replace it with a 19mm GP pin buckle. The gain in comfort is amazing, reaching “crown comfort” so to speak.

So, as we have the year 2015, perhaps there is any hope to see a 4^th  evolution of the Laureato? What do you think, would that be welcomed?

CC